Deliberative Democracy and Beyond: Liberals, Critics, Contestations

Author John S. Dryzek begins this complex and interesting book by noting that the “final decade of the second millennium saw the theory of democracy take a strong deliberative turn.” In this 2002 book, Dryzek argues for a particular interpretation of deliberative democracy, defends this theory of deliberative democracy against two types of criticism, and applies it to a number of important questions. As Dryzek points out, historically there has been an abiding tension between liberal and democratic theory.

In this ground-breaking study, John Dryzek argues that democratic theory is now dominated by a deliberative approach. As one of those responsible for this turn, John Dryzek now takes issue with the direction it has taken. Discussing the models of democracy advocated by both friends and critics of the deliberative approach, Dryzek shows that democracy should be critical of established power, transitional in extending beyond national boundaries, and dynamic in its openness to changing constraints upon and opportunities for democratization.

John Dryzek is Professor of Political Science at the University of Melbourne.